So now gas is just about at $3 a gallon. I trust no one is shocked.
And how have we reacted to this impending crisis?
Well, let’s see. Chrysler and GM have had talks about co-producing a vehicle.
A highly efficient hybrid?
A stripped-down economy model?
Nope. Another SUV. Just what we need.
Locally, we’re doing no better. Gridlock is still wasting tremendous amounts of fuel unnecessarily.
On Tuesday, a mere ten percent of the Gainesville population voted to keep the incumbent city commissioners, based on their campaign promises to Do Something About The Traffic Problems Real Soon Now.
Since only eleven percent *voted*, unfortunately, that means the incumbents won in a landslide. Or, actually, more of a gravel dribble.
And unless my eyes deceive me, we’ve started addressing the issues caused by an over-capacity, badly broken traffic system by… drum roll please… increased traffic enforcement.
This is sort of like treating a cancer patient by slapping them until they apologize.
Clearly, of course, the frustration felt by people forced to island-hop between red lights on major thoroughfares isn’t the fault of the traffic planners. It’s some vague group of wandering gypsies known as “red-light runners”. And they must be stopped!
And what a chance to enhance revenue, to pay for all the additional officers driving around in big heavy cars while gas is $3 a gallon.
Did I mention that gas is $3 a gallon?
Does anyone think it’s going to stop there?
It’s time to stop treating these issues as though they were some sort of game. Do something, anything, right now. Put the low-impact signals into blink mode. Tweak a few more timings for better accuracy (Archer Road and 13th, anyone?) Encourage businesses to stagger their hours and their shifts. Research *real* alternatives for mass transit.
And for heaven’s sake, don’t approve any more development until we can handle the people we already have.